Anna Hazare Reacts To Delhi Court’s Verdict On Arvind Kejriwal And Manish Sisodia In Excise Case

Social activist Anna Hazare on Friday - said that the recent court decision discharging former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the excise policy case must be respected.

He stressed that India functions smoothly because of the strength and independence of its judiciary.

His remarks came after the Rouse Avenue Court cleared Kejriwal, former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, and 21 others in the politically sensitive case.

"The Country Runs on the Strength of the Judiciary"

Speaking about the verdict, Anna Hazare said that India remains stable because of its judicial and security systems. He explained that despite being a large country with many political parties, religions, castes and communities, law and order are maintained because of the courts.

He said that once the judiciary gives its decision, it must be accepted by everyone. According to him, if court verdicts are not respected, it could lead to chaos and unrest in society.

Hazare added that since the court has ruled that Arvind Kejriwal is not at fault, the decision should be honoured.

What the Court Observed

The Rouse Avenue Court discharged Kejriwal, Sisodia and 21 others in the excise policy case. The court noted that the CBI failed to establish any "overarching conspiracy or criminal intent" behind the now-scrapped Delhi Excise Policy.

Among those who received relief was K. Kavitha, president of Telangana Jagruthi.
The excise policy case had become one of the most talked-about political controversies in recent years, leading to arrests and strong political debates.

"We Are Honest," Says Manish Sisodia

Reacting to the verdict, Manish Sisodia said that the decision has strengthened people's faith in the Constitution.

In a post on X, he said that despite many attempts by the BJP and investigative agencies to prove them dishonest, the court has now shown that both he and Arvind Kejriwal are honest.
Sisodia, who earlier served as Delhi's education minister, described the judgment as a moment of relief for the party.

AAP Leaders Call It Vindication

Several leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) said the verdict proved their long-standing claim that the case had no strong basis.

Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh alleged that the case was part of a broader attempt to damage the party's image. He pointed out that many AAP leaders had spent months in jail during the investigation.

Delhi AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj also criticised the BJP. He said that although the BJP governs several states, it chose to target what he called the "small Delhi government." He alleged that honest leaders were defamed through false cases and claimed that agencies like the CBI, ACB and police acted on complaints that he described as baseless.
A Case with Major Political Impact

The Delhi excise policy case had created intense political debate across the country. It led to arrests, court hearings and strong reactions from different political parties.

With the court discharging the accused, AAP leaders see the verdict as a moral and political victory. Meanwhile, the case has once again sparked discussion about the role of investigative agencies and the importance of respecting judicial decisions.

Anna Hazare's statement highlights a key message - whatever the political differences may be, the final word of the judiciary must be respected to ensure stability and trust in democracy.